Notice for Review Requests

I receive review requests weekly. However, my personal schedule is hectic and I no longer review actively. (I also manage another blog called The Toronto Cafe and Food Blog). I do read every request sent but I apologize in advance that I do not reply to them all.

If I do take on a request, I will forewarn that it may take some time before I can review it. I am now looking to review adult fiction and self-help books instead of young adult fiction because I have grown out of it. If you are to request a review for either adult fiction or self-help, I will more likely to give it a shot.

In the meantime, Stop, Drop, and Read! serves as an archive book review blog. When I have the time, I may post a review. Thank you for understanding.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Author Interview: Kelly Parra

Kelly Parra is the author of Graffiti Girl and Invisible Touch, both with a Latino protagonist. I highly enjoyed Invisible Touch, which I definitely recommend for you to read.

Enjoy the interview!

Q: Firstly, what inspired you to write Invisible Touch?

Hi Diana, thanks so much for inviting me for an interview! Let’s see, I’ve had an interest in the paranormal since I was younger, and the television show Ghostwhisperer inspired me to write about a young girl with a psychic ability. I thought wouldn’t it be great to write about a teenager that could see signs and have to piece them together in order to solve mysteries? And that’s how the concept was formed.

Q: If Invisible Touch becomes a movie, which actors/actresses do you want to play your characters?

Oh, tough one. Hmm…someone asked me this before but it was hard for me to come up with people because I imagine what my characters look like in my head. I’ll go with Selena Gomez for Kara and maybe Jesse Metcalf for Anthony. They both have similar looks to the faces I envision. :)

Q: What do you find is the hardest aspect in writing? And the easiest?

The hardest aspect of writing is weaving the plot with themes and goals/conflicts. Having to stay on my toes with many aspects of a book can be daunting! The easiest is the fun part, creating characters from my imagination.

Q: What genres or story plots do you still want to try out that you have not done yet?

I’d love to write an adventure story. I have always loved watching movies with lots of action and adventure and I think one day I’d like to give it a try.

Q: What is your advice to those who wants to become published authors?

Keep reading and writing, learn the craft by taking classes and on- line workshops, and don’t give up. If you love your characters and your story, you’ll keep rewriting and learning until you see them published.

Q: Do you have any novels you are working on at the moment or will be releasing soon? If so, can you please give us a brief summary about them?

I am actually branching out into adult romantic suspense writing under the pen name Kelly Lynn Parra so I do not have a young adult book releasing soon. You can learn more about my books at my website: www.kellyparra.com.

Q: Lastly, please give us an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know of!

How about that I feel that I’m not all that interesting at all? LOL. Okay, my parents have 13 siblings each, for a grand total of 26 aunts and uncles around me while I was growing up. It was definitely entertaining at family gatherings. :)

Bio: Kelly Parra’s earliest stories were told with paintbrushes, but upon discovering the drama, forbidden love, and danger of romance and suspense novels, those paintbrushes were replaced with a keyboard. Now a multi-published author, she has created memorable characters such as a graffiti artist, a psychic teen, and a tough undercover narc. A two-time RITA finalist, she divides her time between her novels, freelance writing, and the adventures of motherhood, where she juggles her home life with two children, a tattooed husband, a sweet poodle, and a stealth turtle. Learn more about Kelly at her website, www.kellyparra.com.

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1 comment:

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

Thanks for the interview, Diana! Glad you enjoyed Touch!